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Cybersecurity is a challenge for all businesses, especially small to medium companies without dedicated IT or security teams. If you’re not asking the right questions, you may leave gaps that could lead to a costly data breach. Here are ten questions you should be discussing with your teams and partners to improve your security posture:
1. Are your employees receiving cybersecurity training?
Most breaches start with a phishing email or malware link that an employee accidentally clicks. Ensure all staff undergo regular security awareness training to reduce these “human errors”.
2- Do you have anti-virus software on all devices?
Simple steps like installing anti-virus and enabling automatic updates can catch the majority of malware before it becomes a problem. Make sure all company-owned devices have up-to-date anti-virus and malware protection.
3- Is your network protected from external threats?
Hackers constantly scan for vulnerable networks they can infiltrate. Invest in firewalls, network segmentation, and other tools to protect your network from external attacks.
4- Are your passwords and logins secure?
Require long, complex, unique passwords for all systems and change default logins. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication where possible. Make sure employees understand the risks of password reuse.
5- Are your backups secured from ransomware?
Make sure your backups are isolated from your leading network and tested regularly. If ransomware encrypts your primary data, your backups may be your only option for data recovery.
6- Do you have a cybersecurity incident response plan?
Even with the best protections, a breach could still happen. Have a plan for how you will respond, contain the incident, notify affected parties, and recover operations. Practice the program with your team.
7- Are your vendors and suppliers secure?
Require security assessments of vendors that handle your data or connect to your network. Ensure contracts require prompt notification of any breaches involving your data.
8- Have you considered the possibility of a security breach due to vulnerabilities in third-party applications used by your organisation?
It may be advantageous to implement a policy mandating the use of a virtual private network (VPN) by employees when accessing company resources from outside of the office. Scan for vulnerabilities in your network, applications and devices, and patch them quickly. Many breaches exploit vulnerabilities that had a patch available for months.
9- Do you understand emerging threats to your industry?
Stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity threats targeting companies like yours. From ransomware to IoT risks, understand the most relevant threats and how to mitigate them.
10- Do you have cybersecurity expertise to call on?
If you lack in-house expertise, work with managed security service providers, consultants or your IT partners to improve your security posture and get help when needed.
Net Essence is always available to help clients with cyber security issues. We can be reached at 020 3137 3719. We strive to be approachable, responsive and transparent in our work. Our team of experts is standing by, ready to have an open discussion about your specific needs and how we may be able to assist.
Don’t go it alone – there is strength in sharing this journey with experts.
Cybersecurity is a fight we all share – and a journey we must make. Asking the right questions is the first step towards improving your security and reducing risks to your business, customers and employees.